Reason All Foreign Embassies are Only Located in Nairobi

A file image of the entrance to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kenya.
A file image of the entrance to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kenya.
File

One thing that stands out when you read a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to the diplomatic community is the address ‘All Diplomatic Missions, Based in Nairobi.’

This is due to the fact that all foreign embassies are domiciled within the Nairobi Metropolis.

While technically an embassy can be located anywhere, the purpose of that office is best achieved when it is located within the capital city.

A photo of Austrian Embassy to Kenya located in Nairobi
A photo of the Austrian Embassy to Kenya located in Nairobi
Austrian Embassy Nairobi

The main aim of an embassy is to communicate between the sending government and the host government.

Since State House and all ministries and departments are located in Nairobi, foreign nations must set their embassies within the area.

This is particularly important for ambassadors who often meet with the Foreign Cabinet Secretary or the President.

Since the ambassadors normally work from their respective embassies, it is ideal that embassies need to be in the capital city for communication purposes.

HandyVisas, a journal for diplomatic issues, details another benefit of having an embassy located within the host capital city.

“If there are trade negotiations to be done, or if one government wants to complain about some action by the other, the embassy handles that.

“If an official delegation from one country plans to visit the other, the embassies will make the arrangements,” the journal explains the need for an embassy to be close to the seat of government.

There are though some cases where an embassy might not be located within the capital city.

If the government seat is not in the capital city, embassies will then be located where the seat of power is situated.

For example, in the Netherlands, the capital city is Amsterdam whereas the seat of the government is the Hague. Also in South Africa, the country's three branches of government are split over different cities with Cape Town housing the parliament, Pretoria housing the President and Cabinet and Bloemfontein housing the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Although not common, an embassy can also be located within the capital city’s suburbs. For example, an embassy can be located on the outskirts of Nairobi County in Kiambu, Kajiado or Machakos regions but not far such that it is outside the city's metropolis. 

There are also sometimes when the host country can bar foreign nations from setting up embassies within the capital city. For example, in the past Saudi Arabia did not allow embassies in its capital city Riyadh.

European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger and President William Ruto pose for a photo with other diplomats
European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger and President William Ruto pose for a photo with other diplomats and Kenya Kwanza leaders at his former Karen home on Thursday, June 2, 2022
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